Our Last Summer

by Shayani Jones

What happens when your best friend turned boyfriend becomes linked in an irrevocable way to the worst day of your life? You cut them off and you try to move on.
Sydney Hart has spent every summer since she was eight on an island in the south of France at her Grandpa’s house. She spent summer days laughing and reading and loving. She spent her days with Camden Davis.
Camden Davis has lived every moment of his life on a remote island. His days were boring until Sydney came along and shook his life up. When the two of them were together for six weeks every summer, nothing else mattered. They were inseparable.
Until tragedy hit and a decade of silence commenced. Their connection slaughtered in an instant. Hurt overwhelmed every other emotion and Sydney left the island and Camden behind until her mum sent her back to the island to sell her Grandpa’s house.
Thrust together after years of silence, Cam and Syd have to fight through the pain to find their way back to each other. Or they could forget about it and remain strangers.
Join their heart-wrenching journey because when tragedy hits, the shockwaves of pain can be felt decades after.

Reviews

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance romance that takes place in the present but flashes back to a big event that changed everything. It was so cute. I didn't know what I was stumbling into with this book. I got an arc copy and I highly enjoyed this. It's got the trope of it will always be them that I'm a sucker for. This book does go into some deep topics and deals extensively with grief. The only thing I wanted was more groveling from the main character but the dynamic of the character lended to the overall theme of the book and spoke to the strength of the bond shared between Cam and Syd. I do want a book 2 about Lydia and her rival, it feels like there is more there. That is a thread that I want to unravel. This is my first book from the author and I was very happy with it. Would love to see what else they write next.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was beautifully written and I loved the characters, especially Cam.

I enjoyed the switch between past and present in telling the story of what happened but also what's currently happening. It shows grief in a different light too and how some people respond after a tragedy.

Also Cam is just a sweetheart raising standards!!!

***ARC REVIEW***

[Moushmi Karmokar · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review: Our Last Summer by Shayani Jones is one of those books that feels like a warm breeze off the lake, gentle, emotional, and impossible to forget.

The story follows Sydney and Camden, who find themselves together at the lake house for one final summer. What starts as a reunion quickly becomes a tender exploration of first love, old wounds, and the way time changes us. I loved how Shayani Jones captured that bittersweet feeling of holding on while learning to let go—the nostalgia is woven so beautifully through every chapter.

The setting was one of my favorite parts. The quiet stillness of the lake, sunsets that feel like they belong in a painting, and the little summer traditions all gave this book such a strong sense of place. It’s not just background—it feels like another character in the story, grounding Sydney and Camden as they figure out where their hearts really belong.

Sydney was relatable in her vulnerability, her longing, and the way she processed the past. Camden was both familiar and fresh, the kind of character who lingers with you long after. Together, their dynamic carried that perfect mix of tenderness, tension, and nostalgia.
What stood out most to me was how this wasn’t just a love story, it was about growing up, healing, and realizing that sometimes the most fleeting moments leave the deepest marks. The romance had me hooked, but the emotional beats are what made the story memorable.

If you love summer romances with heart, a vivid lakeside setting, and characters who feel achingly real, Our Last Summer is one you’ll want to pick up. It’s tender, bittersweet, and full of quiet magic.

[Kara Felegian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much for this ACR copy of Our Last Summer for my honest review!

I loved how the author, Shayani Jones switched back and forth from the past and present day. It added a nice perspective and growth of thought for the characters and added depth to the story. Something that did throw me a little was present day was not actually present day, but 4 years from now. I understand it being a little off with publication to make sure when it’s published/released it’s present day, but these seems a little too much in the future.

I did like Sydney’s relationship with her sisters. I could tell they truly knew and cared for each other. It did feel a little campy and points in the way that she talked with them. Sometimes the conversations didn’t seem realistic.

I loved the tension between Cam and Sydney. The corny baking scene was gold! It was just realistic enough that it worked. Their growth was an emotional roller coaster. I love how dedicated Cam was to Sydney even during their time apart.

One challenge I had with this book was the writing style was inconsistent. At some points I felt it was overly detailed on what the characters were doing. It almost fell a little unesssesary. For example there was a scene where she was getting ready to leave the house, and it was very back and forth for what she was doing to pack. At points I also wanted more. The scene would jump to a new moment without finishing the prior moment.

I admit, although I liked the book overall and the plot and story was fantastic, the writing style was a little choppy.

[Mihaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent read! I loved the storyline and background of Cam and Syd, they had such a beautiful backstory and journey, filled with grief and developing emotions! It was beautiful to witness the love between families and both main characters! It pulls at your heart truly. I loved that the author showed the past and how they became strangers, but bringing them back together was also beautifully written!

[Maddie Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of Our Last Summer and it’s safe to say I loved following Cam and Sydney’s journey.

I really enjoyed how the author allowed you to go back and see how it started for Cam and Sydney as well as seeing how their relationship changed and progressed. I also enjoyed how Sydney’s relationship with her family is shown especially with her sisters.

I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a friends to lovers romance!

[Ria Morjaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank the author for sending me a ARC copy of the book.

I love cam and Sydney’s story, it was a sweet second chance friends to lovers story. The relationship between Cam and Sydney was beautiful I loved the flash back to the past timeline as it provided me the opportunity to get to know their characters more and connect with them on a deeper level. I loved seeing them grow into the people they are in the present timeline and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship grow and develop.

The author did a beautiful job of describing the scenery and it made me want to visit France and see the sights and experience what the characters experienced. I would 100% recommend this book to readers who love a second chance childhood friends to lovers story set in a picturesque setting.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cozy romance. Friends to strangers to lovers. The characters were just adorable and honestly their falling out felt rather justified to me. Both characters have such great siblings too. I enjoyed this a lot and the setting was really great too.

Thank you Literary Rising for the eARC of this book!

[Kenzie Nolen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story. I loved how sweet Camden was with Sydney and everything that he did for her. I also enjoyed how the author put a lot of different book titles through out the book it just made me connect to the characters better being a reader myself. It is a good read for anyone who needs a sweet romance with childhood friends to lovers.

[Kelsey Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something about a dual timeline that always draws me in. This was a really enjoyable read. I loved the back and forth between the present timeline and the flashbacks to the eight summers Cam and Syd spent together in New Rochelle. The buildup of their friendship as children and how it blossomed into them realizing they were in love and then how that was all torn apart was really compelling. Syd going back to New Rochelle after 8 years and reuniting with Cam was really powerful. It became clear pretty quickly that he never moved on from what they had and I loved how attentive and romantic he was while trying to get back in her good graces. The “event” that separated them was definitely not what I was expecting and when it was finally revealed I was so surprised. I really enjoyed Cam and Syd relearning who they were as friends and then later as a couple. This was a really touching story and I loved all of the little romantic things Cam did for Syd even when he wasn’t sure if he would ever see her again.

[Chia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional second-chance romance that hits with nostalgia, heartbreak, and healing. The writing captures the bittersweet ache of summers past and the raw vulnerability of reconnecting. Tender, real, and deeply moving—this one will stay with you.

I'm so glad I got to read OLS prior to its release! Thank you, Literary Rising and Shayani Jones ❤️‍
I loved this book so much! Sydney and Camden were amazing. I'll be eagerly waiting for more 🥰

[Sabrina Mordini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🫑

Our Last Summer is a heartfelt second-chance romance that blends best friends-to-strangers-to-lovers with a touching family backdrop. It’s not usually the type of romance I reach for, since it’s a clean romance, but I still found myself really enjoying it.

I especially liked the alternating timelines between past and present. They let us see how Sydney and Camden’s bond began and how much both characters had changed over the years. While there were a few moments where the push to make the present feel current felt a bit forced, it never took away from the overall story.

Another highlight for me was the portrayal of families—this wasn’t just a romance in a vacuum, but one that gave weight to background, relationships, and generational ties. That grounding made the emotional side of the story more powerful.

Overall, this was a sweet and cozy read, perfect for readers who enjoy a clean, heartwarming take on second-chance love.

[Matthew Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters, amazing world and unexpected plot twist. Loved everything about it!

[Kinal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Our Last Summer was a sweet book by Shayani Jones; however, it did not bring the kind of romance I was looking forward to. For a second chance, small town reconnecting type of tropes we expect a lot of chemistry, which has always been underlying since the characters have known each other long time. However, in this book, I felt empty looking at the characters-Camden and Sydney. Camden is shown too extra sweet and Sydney too lost in her own head to see what she left behind for Camden to suffer. Even after the reunion, the chemistry is slow in how they spend time in loops around similar plans, and how he always cooks for her or takes her around like he did as a child. The past and present do not see new developments, which might have made the plot more interesting, plus there were no intimate scenes to give some spice to their story. I believe there could have been a lot more to this storyline, which was pretty good as I read the blurb.

However, I would like to thank Shayani for giving me this opportunity to read her work; unfortunately, it wasn't meant for me.